I was looking around some soccer websites and found this report on one called sportsweb soccer by some guy called Jeremy Ruane. Look at the last line. Does this guy have something against mens soccer? he seems to like the ladies.
Seven-time National Women�s Knockout Cup winners Lynn-Avon United scored a thoroughly deserved 1-0 triumph over holders Western Springs at Seddon Fields on August 31 to set up a showdown for the silverware with Canterbury�s Western club at North Harbour Stadium in a fortnight�s time.
The outgoing Mainland Premier Women�s League champions will have their hands full endeavouring to contain their opponents on September 13, because Lynn-Avon�s passion and desire to win this semi-final was insatiable.
Springs ultimately had no answers to their rivals, who were on the holders� case right from the first whistle, as evidenced by Kirsty Yallop�s quickly taken free-kick after just 85 seconds.
This attempt, while landing on the roof of the net, served another purpose - a warning shot across Springs� bows which effectively said, �We want our trophy back - badly!� It showed, all the way through to the final whistle.
Not that Springs had any intentions of meekly surrendering to their opponents a la that prime example of New Zealand footballing mediocrity, the Wellington Phoenix.
The outgoing Mainland Premier Women�s League champions will have their hands full endeavouring to contain their opponents on September 13, because Lynn-Avon�s passion and desire to win this semi-final was insatiable.
Springs ultimately had no answers to their rivals, who were on the holders� case right from the first whistle, as evidenced by Kirsty Yallop�s quickly taken free-kick after just 85 seconds.
This attempt, while landing on the roof of the net, served another purpose - a warning shot across Springs� bows which effectively said, �We want our trophy back - badly!� It showed, all the way through to the final whistle.
Not that Springs had any intentions of meekly surrendering to their opponents a la that prime example of New Zealand footballing mediocrity, the Wellington Phoenix.
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Good point Coll. This guy is always talking up womens football for its desire, passion, grace, skill blah blah blah and saying it is way better to watch than the men. What planet is he on?
To say the mighty Phoenix are the prime example of mediocrity in NZ is an abolsute joke, he's having a laugh surely. Creditable first season and remember this season is only three games old.
It's a bit too early to write them off. Haven't the Football Ferns or whatever they're called won about 3 games in the past decade or something? That's mediocre.
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I hope he realises that he does more damage to women's football when he prints rubbish like that than he could ever do good.
DialSquare2008-09-10 07:08:44
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Who is worse I wonder? The anti-NZ press in Australia, or the anti-football/Phoenix press in NZ?
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Or those who make smug chauvinistic comments about womens football even?
It was a cheap shot, sure, but it's not likethe past three weeks haven't given 'nix knockers plenty of ammo.
And Jezza is to be commended for his boundless enthusiasm for all football.
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it hurts, but to be honest the fact is for a fully proffesional club our display last week when it came to challenging for the ball was pathetic.
You know we belong together...
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I think the Media have gone easy on the nix since Adelaide because they have been able to focus on the AW's, i hate to think what would have been in the press if they hadn't of had the All Whites to cover
www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com
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Not sure the Phoenix would agree the media has "gone easy" on them after Adelaide.
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If the Negative media gives the players a bit more motivation to actually do their jobs, I'm all for it! We will see how it has effected them on Sunday though I guess
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It was a poke at the nix for sure and some may agree with him, but I have to agree that it had nothing to do with the article topic at all and suddenly detracts from the article on women's football at the end. If he drop the last 13 words and replace it with a !, then he will leave a better impression about the game overall.
Anyway, it's a bit naive to suggest that anyone would surrender having being only one goal down. I can't see the phoenix would surrender being only a goal down until the final whistle so I'm not sure what he really saying other than another personal unprovoked attack. As for mediocrity, most footballing people know that the Nix are a stronger team (on paper at least) than any of the NZFC teams. (afterall we have a Nix vs AW tread!) And any strong comparsions to another competition is a bit . . . weak and only serves to fuel the ignorant readers, in which there are many.
Well J.R., you like to return a reply or keep it on silent mode for another ninja attack?
Anyway, it's a bit naive to suggest that anyone would surrender having being only one goal down. I can't see the phoenix would surrender being only a goal down until the final whistle so I'm not sure what he really saying other than another personal unprovoked attack. As for mediocrity, most footballing people know that the Nix are a stronger team (on paper at least) than any of the NZFC teams. (afterall we have a Nix vs AW tread!) And any strong comparsions to another competition is a bit . . . weak and only serves to fuel the ignorant readers, in which there are many.
Well J.R., you like to return a reply or keep it on silent mode for another ninja attack?
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Polemic?
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
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To quote Pontius Pilate, "What I have written, I have written"!
Whether folk agree with it or not isn't my concern, because the response I'm most interested in - the one I'm looking to provoke with, in this instance, uncompromising acerbity - will, I hope, be revealed on a football pitch in fairly short order (i.e. from 5pm Sunday) by those to whom the comment is directed.
A basic rule of thumb I employ with my stories is: I write what I see. I don't concern myself with sound-bites or opinions - my prime concern is what eventuates on the pitch, which, as far as I'm concerned, is where the only talking which matters takes place.
If a player or team performs above the standards expected of them, they'll get the praise they've earned, and I'm more than happy to dish it out - I'd far rather write positive things about football than negative.
But if I have to do the latter, I will, as I've proven. In short, fail to satisfy those expected standards and you'll cop a bollocking - if the performance is deserving of mention at all!
So far this season, Wellington has failed to satisfy the standards expected of them - of that all and sundry on these forums are all too well aware, and haven't been shy in passing comment on, and rightly so.
What people tend to lose sight of, however, is that to the non-footballing public, Wellington Phoenix is the team which portrays the overall standard of football in NZ, because more often than not, they are the only NZ team Joe Public regularly gets to see on the box.
The standard they've shown so far this season ... be honest, we've all seen better, gender and grade regardless. It is certainly not representative of the general standard of football in this country, and the standards which are generally regarded as acceptable by the populace.
That was very much emphasised the very next day, in the National Women's Knockout Cup semi-final, so I considered a brutally honest broadside about Wellington's comparative performance standards to be perfectly in context with the report I was writing, because the display from the previous evening was fresh in the minds of all present, and the performances of both teams I was witnessing, in a match which featured about twenty players who were present or recent senior or age-grade NZ representatives, was far more in keeping with the standard I expect of teams involved in a top-class football fixture in this country.
The challenge which that broadside lays down to the Wellington players is: make me write what you want to see written about yourselves, via vastly improved, consistent and competitive on-field performances.
Doing so will do much to regain the respect of all in the game, and those outside it who take an interest because it's a team representing New Zealand against Australian opposition. As well, the media in general - not just myself - and those who follow football here will, as a result of such efforts, find far more reason to be positive about Wellington Phoenix and the game generally.
Surely that's an attribute towards which we're all aspiring, via our various approaches towards addressing issues within NZ football as a whole.
Cheers,
JR
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What a load of arse. When did you write your last negative story about women's football?
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DialSquare, you've hit the nail on the head.
This guy goes on about calling it like he sees it but you'll never see anything remotely ngative about womens football. From the very small amount I've seen his match reports are like love letters. I doubt many people actually read them from start to finish cos they're the size of a small book and pretty dull.
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Does anyone else in the media in this country provide the women's game with anywhere near as much exposure and publicity, which is still significantly less than is afforded the men's game in this country?
No.
I'll carry on doing what I'm doing - covering both men's and women's football - as I'm doing it, thanks very much. Whether you read it or not is your choice - frankly, I don't care.
I'm not answerable to you, nor you to me, so just carry on following the chaps' efforts and living in your female football-free environment as you currently are, and we'll continue to contribute to the various aspects of the game for which we have a passion without needing to resort to personal insults.
Cheers,
JR
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I'm not sure if that answers DialSquare's question to be fair
Founder
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hello there. I�d just like to acknowledge the tremendous job Jeremy does in providing coverage of the game in New Zealand, both men�s and women�s.
Jerry does have a soft spot for the women�s game and I�d regard him as the foremost media expert on women�s football here, with daylight second.
But he also runs several authoritative websites, and performs labours of love for the men�s game as well: no papers come close to his level of men�s club football coverage across the board.
Ironically, for years I used to criticise Jerry for not posting MORE critical reports. (Though I have seen him bemoan the odd dreadful wimmins game in print.)
In the circumstances, I�m prepared to forgive him the odd dig at the Phoenix. It�s not that controversial is it: saying the Phoenix have been a bit mediocre? If you contextualise it in terms of the time and money that has been poured into them, I think it�s a fair call � results to date HAVE been mediocre -- even if it was a little incongruous in the context of a women�s report to say so.
But for my money, Jerry has been a national treasure for a number of years. What he does for the game in a week, on a volunteer basis, most of you would struggle to fit into a career. (That was Jeremy doing the ground announcing at the All Whites game on Wednesday too, by the way.)
What annoys me more about Jerry is his bloody Liverpool fixation. It�s a real conversation killer. I wish he would grow out of it.
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Women aren't cut out to play football.
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I'm not sure if that answers DialSquare's question to be fair
exactly
I like tautologies because I like them.
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Does anyone else in the media in this country provide the women's game with anywhere near as much exposure and publicity, which is still significantly less than is afforded the men's game in this country?
No.
I'll carry on doing what I'm doing - covering both men's and women's football - as I'm doing it, thanks very much. Whether you read it or not is your choice - frankly, I don't care.
I'm not answerable to you, nor you to me, so just carry on following the chaps' efforts and living in your female football-free environment as you currently are, and we'll continue to contribute to the various aspects of the game for which we have a passion without needing to resort to personal insults.
Cheers,
JR
there was no personal insult - your writing was criticised. You criticise the the Nix (fair enough). Harden up.
I like tautologies because I like them.
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I write them when they need to be written, DialSquare. (I wasn't in a position to answer this question earlier, hence the reticence in same). Recent samples include:
http://www.sportswebsoccer.com/cgi-bin/control.pl?Function=News&Option=Npwl&Item=20080824.txt&Month=
As for your comment, Cosimo, I'm well hardened, thanks very much - the "frankly, I don't care" phrase says as much.
Thankyou, Bruce, for your compliments - the LFC reference apart, of course! :-))
Cheers,
JR
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Can we stop having a dig at JR please? There are plenty of other muppet journalists who give nothing to the game that we could be poking fun at instead.
JR I wouldn't take anyone here too seriously - being berated on here puts you in quite esteemed company: Dewhurst, Holloway, Gourdie, that moron from Breakfast...hmm, maybe I'll stop...
Anyway, bollocks to the lot of them. Keep up the good work.
JR I wouldn't take anyone here too seriously - being berated on here puts you in quite esteemed company: Dewhurst, Holloway, Gourdie, that moron from Breakfast...hmm, maybe I'll stop...
Anyway, bollocks to the lot of them. Keep up the good work.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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Thankyou Smithy.
It's hard to take seriously those who hide behind anonymity, as they're denying themselves credibility by doing so.
Cheers,
JR
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Can we stop having a dig at JR please? There are plenty of other muppet journalists who give nothing to the game that we could be poking fun at instead.
JR I wouldn't take anyone here too seriously - being berated on here puts you in quite esteemed company: Dewhurst, Holloway, Gourdie, that moron from Breakfast...hmm, maybe I'll stop...
Anyway, bollocks to the lot of them. Keep up the good work.
JR I wouldn't take anyone here too seriously - being berated on here puts you in quite esteemed company: Dewhurst, Holloway, Gourdie, that moron from Breakfast...hmm, maybe I'll stop...
Anyway, bollocks to the lot of them. Keep up the good work.
that's a pretty sh*t comment - you do want people to post on here, right?
I like tautologies because I like them.
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My only issue with it is,that it did seem like a random dig,since the article was about womens football. Pretty much,i agree with allwhitebeliever.
As much as i agree people on here are too precious,i think theyre right to pull you up on this one..
Not criticising you,just the article.
Allegedly
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Personally, I would have change the last 13 words to "a prime example to all footballers even to the Wellington Phoenix footballers on their current form" which then sounds more encouraging. But then I don't write articles like JR and have different football priorities.
Anyway, I appreciated JR's articles which informs me on the comings and goings in our game. Not that I totally agree with some of the sentiments but it gives an angle that I may have not considered before and gauges what Joe Public may think.AllWhitebelievr2008-09-13 14:46:26
Anyway, I appreciated JR's articles which informs me on the comings and goings in our game. Not that I totally agree with some of the sentiments but it gives an angle that I may have not considered before and gauges what Joe Public may think.AllWhitebelievr2008-09-13 14:46:26
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Theres some shocking reporters and commentators out there
1. Keith Quinn- cant get any bloody thing correct
2. Hamish McKay-when its rugby he speaks slow and precise,when its soccer its like hes running a 100m sprint
3.All of the old retired players who comment on the rugby games (domestic and international) except Ian smith
4. Terry Matterford(spelling?) hes okay i guess,but he always gets things wrong like "a cracking shock hit the cross bar" when infact the shot went over the cross bar, and he always seems to have a good write up about Mt.Albert Grammer this and Mt.albert grammer that( im sure hes a oldboy)
1. Keith Quinn- cant get any bloody thing correct
2. Hamish McKay-when its rugby he speaks slow and precise,when its soccer its like hes running a 100m sprint
3.All of the old retired players who comment on the rugby games (domestic and international) except Ian smith
4. Terry Matterford(spelling?) hes okay i guess,but he always gets things wrong like "a cracking shock hit the cross bar" when infact the shot went over the cross bar, and he always seems to have a good write up about Mt.Albert Grammer this and Mt.albert grammer that( im sure hes a oldboy)
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4. Terry Matterford(spelling?) hes okay i guess,but he always gets things wrong like "a cracking shock hit the cross bar" when infact the shot went over the cross bar, and he always seems to have a good write up about Mt.Albert Grammer this and Mt.albert grammer that( im sure hes a oldboy)
Maddaford.
What I particularly like about him is that this season he is completely ignoring the Phoenix... always the mark of a good football reporter to completely ignore the nations top club side.
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If you got nothing positive to say,dont say anything at all. Probably a good thing...
Allegedly
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I think he had plenty of backlash on his articles about the Nixs and is licking his wounds still. But if you want to leak any football information out to the media, he's one of the first to talk to because he reveals anything good or bad and guess, guess, guess a lot.
I wonder what his latest views on the MAGS vs AGS incident with Fallon. Anyone?
I wonder what his latest views on the MAGS vs AGS incident with Fallon. Anyone?
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JR is a big nurses blouse. So is hardnews. and Bruce Holloway, another big girlieman!!!.
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JR's contributions on both women's and Northern League football are legendary, and there is no one who has worked so hard for so little profit to promote the game here in Jafaville.
And, having seen the coverage of the Phoenix's game, I think the YF fanatics need to lighten up a little. The press have been positively mallowpuff soft on what was another pretty atrocious effort by a side which is really struggling to run with the big boys. "Gutsy effort" et al. Hogwash, it was appalling, and glossing over the problems doesn't make them go away, and the crowds are never going to grow with the fare that was dished up on Sunday.
The Nix are a team without a midfield general, have too many hackers and hoofers, and have only one (admittedly very good) attacking option.
And its not the coach, the All Whites showed there are Kiwi players who can play the attacking midfield role very well, while Brockie needs to be signed NOW.
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